Definition: German archaeologist and ethnohistorian Gustaf Kossinna is widely perceived as being a tool of the megalomaniac Adolf Hitler. Kossinna was quite influential, in fact; his early arguments attempting to define cultures in archaeological sites by using specific artifact types were an early application of the cultural-historical approach. Where Kossinna went wrong was by going to extremes, as shown by his famous quote, "Sharply defined archaeological cultural areas correspond unquestionably with the areas of particular people or tribes." He used ethnohistory to search for the origins of specific ethnic groups, believing there was a one-to-one relationship between modern and ancient ethnic groups, something modern archaeologists know is not true. Kossinna definitely believed that Germans were the descendants of a superior race he called the Germani; and as such his theories fit right into the Hitler/Himmler concept of the Aryan race.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
